One of the inner-city’s biggest trees gone in one day

St Lucia residents are furious that a 37m high spotted gum, believed to be the tallest tree in their suburb, has been felled.

A huge gum tree believed to be one of the biggest in Brisbane’s inner west is the latest of 58 trees to be cleared from a housing site.

The spotted gum, which some neighbours say is home to the critically-endangered powerful owl, was reduced to a stump last week.

It is so big the cherry picker called out to do the job was not large enough, so an even bigger crane had to be found.

It is one of about 58 trees that will be cut down at 51 Sixth Ave, which will have only about 10 trees left — along a floodprone strip of land.

“This is a testament to how badly the planning scheme is set up,’’ leading former town planner and St Lucia Community Association secretary John Brannock said.

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All that was left of the grand gum by about 3pm today (Thursday). It has since been reduced to a stump.

“It used to be able to be seen by hundreds, if not thousands of people, it was so tall.

“About 53 trees, at our best guess, have already gone and five smaller ones will probably go today.

“The remaining 10 trees on the site are in the waterway in a spot where you don’t want to build, as water flows through there in heavy rain.

“It’s sad as well because this shows you can’t have faith in planning at the neighbourhood level.

“There’s no point having these sort of code assessable developments if the conditions don’t have to be complied with.’’

Mr Brannock, also a former surveyor, estimated the spotted gum’s height at just over 37m (122 or 123 feet), which he said could make it the biggest tree in St Lucia.

He said it was close to a boundary,so not in the way of re-development plans, and had not dropped branches on the existing home that was knocked down for the project — or on a neighbour’s house.

The development application submitted by consultants Litoria Consulting, on behalf of developer Saba Projects, also said the tree was 37m high.

Litoria was approached for comment.

Saba, which plans to build three new homes on the site, was not able to be contacted.

Workers assessing native trees on the steep site.

Mr Brannock, who has lived in the suburb for 22 years, said the destruction was just the latest in a recent spate of developments in St Lucia where sites were effectively clear-felled.

They included 199 Carmody Rd, 35 Sixth Ave, another site in Eighth Ave and also public land near the Scout Hall.

“Mostly the trees have been going since the last planning scheme in 2014, which appears not to be (effective) enough to save significant trees,’’ he said.

“It’s pointless identifying significant trees if you don’t protect them.’’

Council said it took the protection of trees and green space very seriously.

“Our Biodiversity mapping helps protect areas that are highly significant, including those home to local wildlife,’’ a spokeswoman said.

“The site at 51 Sixth Avenue, St Lucia is not identified as a high ecologically significant area and is not part of our biodiversity overlay.

“As part of this sub-division, we worked with the applicant to develop a Vegetation Management Plan to make sure vegetation that didn’t need to be cleared for new family homes, remained on site.

“This plan, alongside a detailed botanical survey submitted by the applicant, found that there were no hollow bearing trees located on the site where wildlife could live.

“All reporting for this development also found it was not likely to be inhabited by species of significance, including Powerful Owl nesting sites.

“Powerful Owl territory can extend up to 1000ha and they prefer dense forest.

“As part of the works, a wildlife spotter will be present during the tree removal to ensure that any wildlife can be safely relocated.’’

The 51 Sixth Ave project is code assessable, meaning the developer does not have to notify neighbours.

Residents also have no right to appeal the Council approval, which was made independently by Council officers — not the local councillor, James Mackay.

Stumps of some of the cleared trees, and a large gum on the boundary line. About 58 trees will or have already been cut down.

Mr Brannock said the VMP was approved despite a condition of approval stating that, in accordance with the Toowong-Indooroopilly District Neighbourhood Plan, the area’s “green and leafy character’’ should be maintained and existing and mature vegetation retained.

Council’s ecology team assessed the VMP as being compliant with the development approval.

“There have been a number of powerful owls in that tree over the years that I have personally witnessed and are widely heard in the local community,’’ Mr Brannock said.

“Given that the powerful owl is a threatened species, the removal of this tree could be in violation of either Section 73 of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 or Section 19 of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006.

“The State is required to take action to ensure viable populations of the wildlife in the wild are preserved and to protect critical habitat.’’

He said the version of City Plan that the application was assessed under did not identify 51 Sixth Ave in Council’s Biodiversity Overlay, so it did not consider whether trees should be retained or whether revegetation works were needed.